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The Rough Side of the Mountain: A Memoir – A Southern Political Journey of Leadership, Family, Adversity, and the Joy of Authenticity

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Description

A poignant and inspiring memoir from the current Georgia gubernatorial candidate about her modest, hardscrabble upbringing, and fully appreciating the selfless, loving, fierce, and altogether Southern-twinged lessons her family taught her.Long before Keisha Lance Bottoms rose to prominence in politics, she was a daddy’s girl from the west side of Atlanta—the baby of her family, who did well in school, though she talked too much in class; an outgoing kid who dreamed of growing up to be elegant and charismatic like her parents, cool like her older siblings and big cousins, and the pride of her very large Southern family.After law school, Bottoms worked as an attorney, served as a judge, and was elected to City Council and the mayorship, where she garnered national attention for her leadership during the pandemic and George Floyd protests. Later, she was appointed senior advisor in President Joe Biden’s administration.Yet Bottoms felt disquieted internally. She was in her early fifties and approaching the age her beloved father was when he died. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something in her life was missing, like she’d forgotten to bring an essential element of herself along for her ascension. Stepping away from the daily political grind, Bottoms realized how much she’d sanded down parts of herself on her path to professional success. She’d tucked away the fuller details about her dad’s drug abuse and prison stint for dealing; the sexual abuse she endured; the eating disorder she developed; the close-knit, utterly unpolished family who doted on her and gave her an incredible foundation of love and confidence but whose influence she’d smoothed to a sleek, charming, campaign-ready sheen. She thought that was the price of upward mobility. Then she realized she was wrong.The Rough Side of the Mountain is about this excavation. It’s Bottoms’s deeply affecting journey to rescue a version of herself that she thought she had to leave behind to succeed. An homage to the lessons from kinfolk plainly told, hers is a timely and heartfelt memoir about unmasking oneself, the joys of authenticity, embracing what you see, and spreading that powerful message. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 21, 2026


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063420082


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 83


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.43 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.93 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #16,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #53 in Political Leader Biographies #60 in Black & African American Biographies #506 in Memoirs (Books)


#53 in Political Leader Biographies:


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Saturday, Jun 6

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • she a role model for us all.
Format: Hardcover
excelent an inspirational
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026 by anne j poe

  • Inspiring!!!!
Format: Hardcover
Before reading this memoir, I only knew Keisha Lance Bottoms through her public role, but this book truly introduced me to the woman behind the title. From the beginning, her honesty pulled me in, especially as she shares the story of her father’s arrest and the lasting impact it had on her family. Learning that she is the daughter of a well-known musician was surprising, but what moved me most was the loving, close-knit network of relatives who helped raise her and supported her every step of the way. As someone who also grew up in the South, that part of her story really resonated with me. When my parents divorced, our extended family stepped in to support my mother and help raise my sisters and me. Seeing that same sense of community reflected in her story made it feel deeply personal and familiar. Even without a background in politics, I found her journey very relatable. She speaks honestly about what leadership requires—the rewards, the sacrifices, and the emotional weight of responsibility. From her first day in office as mayor, she knew there were people who did not want her there, so she committed to initiatives centered on transparency and accountability. That decision clearly set the tone for her entire term. She governed during deeply complex and challenging times for the city, the state, and the country, and she does not shy away from acknowledging that reality. This memoir is thoughtful, heartfelt, and deeply moving, and it gave me a new appreciation for Keisha Lance Bottoms not just as a leader, but as a person. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in leadership, public service, or meaningful stories of resilience, family, and personal growth. A huge thanks to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026 by LaShanda

  • Inspiring!
Format: Kindle
I couldn’t wait for the release of this book and REALLY enjoyed reading it! Though I’m not from Georgia, I still thought throughout the book, “Atlanta's got a mayor named Keisha.” 😊 Immersive reading has become a staple for me, so I especially enjoyed audibly reading it in her voice while visually reading her words alongside her. The entire experience really showed her down-to-earth personality, intelligence, hard-working nature and deep love for family and for uplifting others. I truly enjoyed reading about her family, background, college years, support system, concerns and the many triumphs and challenges she experienced throughout her personal life and political journey. She was so honest and relatable. And I appreciated the various tips, advice and encouragement she included in the book. So inspiring!! I’ll definitely be recommending this book to others. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026 by TSimp

  • Superb reading
Format: Hardcover
Great reading
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2026 by Shirley Jefferson

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